The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are proud to be working with The Football Association on the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Cultural Programme. From February through the tournament period in July 2022, we’ll be delivering the EURO 2022 Anthem Project, engaging fans and local residents in a range of musical opportunities and public events celebrating the history, ethos and future of women’s football. Find out how you can get involved below.
UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Tournament Anthem
The first part of the project invites fans, players and local people to contribute to a new Tournament Anthem that will feature at matches and in Fan Zones throughout the competition. Inspired by three prompts set by writer Hazel Gould, words and ideas submitted by you will be woven together into the new Anthem’s lyrics, set to music by British composer Shirley Thompson OBE and recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with community singers from each tournament host city. Once the Anthem is finished in early June, resources, recordings and backing tracks will be made freely available here for anyone to learn, use, adapt and perform in their own way.
Get involved now!
To take part, watch the video below and think about the prompts. Then submit your thoughts and ideas via the form below. We cannot wait to hear from you!
What have we got to shout about? Tell us what you love about women’s football as a fan, a player or someone new to the game.
- Describe a footballer? What qualities does she need to thrive?
- Describe the crowd – tell us about the atmosphere in the ground on Match Days. What does it sound like? How does it feel? Who is there?
- What are your dreams for the future of women’s football?
The deadline for all submissions is 23:59 on Friday 18 March 2022.
Host City Anthems
In addition to the Tournament Anthem, each host city (Southampton, Brighton & Hove, Hounslow, Brent, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Rotherham, Trafford, Manchester and Wigan & Leigh) will work with a local composer and RPO musicians to devise a new Local Anthem celebrating their area and football history. If you live in or visit one of the host cities, keep an eye out on local media for information on a range of participatory workshops you can join to try out instruments, meet musicians and develop lyric and musical ideas for the pieces.
Once workshops finish in May, each new piece will be arranged and backing tracks and other resources made available here for local groups to use as they see fit. Community participants will also be invited to join an RPO quintet in performing the Local and Tournament Anthems at Fan Zones on match days in each area. Check back soon for a schedule of performances you won’t want to miss.
Music and Sport Lecture Series
Throughout the tournament in July 2022, an expert panel series will bring together leading figures from the music and sport industries to discuss the relationship between the two sectors. With topics ranging from the parallels between elite footballers and elite musicians to the complex role music and sound play in sports performance, fans of culture and sport will come together to discuss the exciting links between music and football. Ten panels will take place in tournament host cities as well as being live streamed for further reach, so check back soon to find an event near you.
About this project
This project is funded using public funding from Arts Council England, with contributions from The Football Association and tournament Host Cities. The programme has been designed with Artistic Director Hannah Conway, with workshops and events delivered by musicians and leaders from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and host cities.